Vine puller and cutter



March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSO-N VINE FULLER AND CUTTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 5, 1948 a m w March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSON VINE FULLER AND CUTTER 7Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1948 w MM 0 W March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSON 4,

VINE FULLER AND CUTTER Filed Nov. 5, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 grifzeyofinsan March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSON 2,544,024

VINE FULLER AND CUTTER Filed Nov. 5, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 grwe/wto v g1Frz'fz J'a/znaon 1 53% March 6, 1951 JOHNSON 2,544,024

VINE FULLER AND CUTTER Filed Nov. 5, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 E: I K (A T I\Q Q g j 1"? 1 a H Frizz ciaizrzsan MQLM W March 6, 1951 F. JOHNSON VINEFULLER AND CUTTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 5, 1948 n 0 m a a 5 h 6 0U U m D U J I j r 7 I e o o 0 mi 4 m 6 9 o o 0 g 1 g E w 5 March 6, 1951Filed Nov. 5, 1948 F. JOHNSON 2,544,024

VINE FULLER AND CUTTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 W LM Jazz 5,

Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VINE FULLER AND CUTTERFritz Johnson, Idaho Falls, Idaho Application November 5, 1948, SerialNo. 58,381

This invention relates to a machine for pulling and oomminuting potatovines, weeds or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine which is soconstructed and arranged that it will pull potato vines without pullingthe potatoes, and will then cut up the vines and deposit the cut vinesonto the ground.

Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with avine puller and cutter of this kind, rollers at the rear of the machinewhich will not only break up clods, but will also close the holes formedby pulling the vines so that insects or the like will not enter theground and injure the potatoes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this kindwhich is so constructed that the rotary cutting member is supportedabove the pulling rollers so as to cut the vines while they are stillgripped between the rollers. V

A further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thiskind improved pulling rollers which are so constructed and rotated atsuch speed as to effectively pull the vines from the potatoes withoutbreaking the vines and leaving stubs sticking above the ground.

A further object of this invention is to provid a machine of this kindwherein the pulling rollers are disposed in forwardly divergentrelation, being spaced apart slightly at their forward ends so that thevines will not be broken by the rollers and there will be a graduallyincreased pulling force applied to the vines as they move along thelengths of the rollers.

With the use of this machine, the ripening period of the potatoes can beshortened and definitely set, as after the vineshave-been pulled thepotatoes which are now substantially full grown are left in the groundfor a week or ten days and may then be dug as full: ripened potatoeswhich can be immediately sacked or otherwise readied for the market.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation, partly broken away, of a vinepuller and cutter constructed according to an embodiment of thisinvention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section througha pair of the rollers,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2, 1

8 Claims. (C1. 55-61) 4 Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectiontaken at the rear of the machine showing the roller driving means,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken substantiall on the line 6-6 ofFigure l,

Figure '7 is a sectional View taken on the line 'l"| of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a plan view of the frame structure of this machine,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the forward portion of the frameshowing the drawbar connection with the frame,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section showing one of the rollertensioning means,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the bearing andadjusting means for one of the rollers,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section looking forwardly of amodified form of this invention,

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 ofFigure 12,

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i l-l4 ofFigure 12.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 11 inclusive, thenumeral l5 designates generally a mobile frame structure embodying apair of longitudinal frame bars [6 having secured to the opposite endsthereof transverse frame bars H and E8. The frame bars IT and [8 projectbeyond the longitudinal bar it as shown in Figure 8, the purpose forwhich will be hereinafter described. The frame bar l8 which is the frontframe bar has secured to the laterally projecting ends a pair of bracketplates [9 between each pair of which is rockably mounted a wheelcarrying lever 20.

The forward end of the lever 20 is mounted on a shaft 21 extendingbetween the bracket plates l9 and the rear end of each lever 20 hassecured thereto a spindle 22 on which a wheel 23 is rotatably mounted.The laterally projecting ends of the rear frame bar I! have securedthereto a pair of upstanding bracket plates 24 between which is mountedthe upper end of a hydraulic member 25;

The hydraulic member 25 includes a cylinder 26 and a plunger 27 which ispivotally secured as at 28 to the lever 20, rearwardly of the spindle22, The cylinder 25 is connected by means of a tubular connecting member29 to a source of fiuid pressure supply which in the present instance ismounted on the tractor which is connected to the frame I5.

The frame 15 has fixed thereto forwardly con vergent drawbars 30, andthe drawbars 30, as

shown in Figure 9, have obtusely bent rear portions 3| which are fixedby fastening means 32 to the longitudinal frame members |6. An anglemember 33 is fixed as by welding or the like to the drawbars 38 at theforward side of the front frame member I8 and each angle member 33 isfixed by fastening means 34 to the forward side of the frame member l8.

A drive shaft 35 is journalled in bearings 36 carried by the upper sideof the frame I5, and the shaft 35 includes a universal joint 31 disposedat the forward end of the frame l5. The shaft 35 is adapted to beconnected to the power take off of the tractor and the rear end of theshaft 35 has mounted thereon a relatively large driving pulley 38.

A pair of rotatable cutting members 39 are disposed below the frame Iand each cuttingmember 39 includes a cylindrical body 40 having securedthereto longitudinal flanges 4| to which cutting blades 42 are securedby fastening means 43. A shaft 44 is journalled in bearings 45 and 46which are fixed tovertically disposed plates 41 and48 respectively. Theplates 41 and 48- are of like construction and as shown in Figure 3,includes pairs of vertical elongated slots 49 and 50 through whichfastening means 5| and 52 respectively are adapted to engage. Thefastening means 52 extend through the transverse frame bars l1 and I8,whereas the fastening means 5| extend through an L-shaped member 53-which is fixed to a transverse frame member.

The upper end. of each plate 41- and 48 isprovided with a rightangularly' disposed nut or lug 54 through which is threaded a bearingadjusting bolt 55. The rightangle member 53" is provided at its upperend with a right angularly disposed lug 56' throughwhich the bolt 55engages. Each shaft 44 has secured thereto a relatively small groovedpulley; 51- about which a; driving. belt 58 is trained, and the belt 58alsoengages in one of a pair of groovesformed in the large drivingpulley 38..

There are. two rollers 59 and 60 for each cutting member 39 with the tworollers disposedbe low the associated cuttingmernber; and with the axisof the cutting member substantially in a vertical plane of the meetingline between the two rollers 59 and 60. Eachroller comprises a fluted orribbed cylindrical body 6| formed with a tapered or cone-shaped forwardend 62, and a. shaft 63 extends through the roller, projecting from theopposite ends thereof, and theshaft 63 is journalled in verticallyadjustable bearings 64 and 65.

The bearings 64 are secured to depending bearing supporting bars- 66 and67, and the bearings 65 are secured to similar depending bars carried bythe frame |-5'; The bar 66 is fixed relative to the frame |5 whereas thebar' 61- is pivoted at its upper end on a pivot member 68. A dependingbar 69 is fixed to the frame l5, and aspring is' interposed between thebearing supporting bar 61 and the depending bar 69.

A spring tensioning flanged plug II is mounted on a bolt 12' which isthreaded through the bar 69' so that the spring 'Hl may be" tensioned tothe desired degree; In this manner one of the rollers, such as roller59, may be spring tensioned toward the other roller 60. A stop pin 13 isadiustably carried by the fixed bar 69, extending in the direction ofthe bearing supporting member 61 so as to limit the outward swinging ofthe supporting member- 61 and the ro1ler59.

Each bearing 64 and 65 is adapted to'be verti- 15 cally adjusted bymeans of an adjusting screw 14 which is threaded through a nut 15 fixedto a bearing supporting member such as member 61, as shown in Figure 11.Each roller shaft 63 has fixed to the rear end thereof a sprocket 16about which a chain 11 engages. The chain 11 extends upwardly and istrained about an upper sprocket" which is fixed to a shaft 19 extendingfrom a gear housing 60'.

The housing is mounted on a horizontally disposed supporting bar 8|which, as shown in Figure 8, is fixed between a pair of rearwardlyextending bars 82. The bars 62 are fixed at their forward ends to therear transverse bar 8|, and each bar 82' has secured to the rear endthereof a rearwardly projecting lug 83.

Each gear housing 88 is adapted to be laterally adjusted on thesupporting bar 8| by means of an adjusting screw or bolt 84 which isthreaded through a nut 85 pivotally" carriedv by the supporting bar 81.The bar 8| is formed with. elongated slots 86 through which the gearhousing securing: means 81: engage.

As shown in Figure 3, there are: two shafts 19 extending from the gearhousing 80 and the innermost one of the: shafts 19 includes a smallsprocket 88 about which a chain. 89: is. trained. The chain 89 extendsinwardly and is. trained about a sprocket 90 which is fixed to. theshaft 35. As. shown in Figure. 3', there are. two chains 89, oneextending to the left and the other to the right, with the latter chainextending to the outermost sprocket 88.

The frame l5 hassecured; to; the: forward. portion thereof two. pairsof." rearwardly convergent shields: orguides 9 'i which. are secured to.the forward roller supporting bars 66' and 61. A roller frame generallydesignated as 9.3 is. disposed. at the-rear of the frame. I5: andincludes an. inverted frame member: 94 which. has fixed. thereto a pairof: forwardly extending bars. 95.

The. bars 82: which extend. rearwardly from the transverse bar: 81 havefixed. thereto. depending plates 96 and the forward ends of the. arms95' are pivotally mounted on: pivot members 91' which extendthroughtheplates 96.. Asshown. in Figures 1. anda2; the: gear housing supportingbar 8|; isfixed betweenthedepending plates 96 and the latter is formed:with vertical. elongated slots: 98

through. which. bolts: 99 engage. this manner the bar 811 maybeevertica-lly adjustedtov tighten or loosen the chains 11.

The U-shapedmember: 94'has fixed to the bight thereof 2:. depending barmo, and a bearing |0=| is secured to the. lower: portion of the bar N10;The depending legs I02 of the lit-shaped; member 94 have. fixed: theretobearings. 03; and: a roller shaft N14 is journalled throughthe: bearingsWI: and I03; A pair of concave rollersv we are mounted on the shaftvH14v and disposed one each in alignment: with a pair of pulling rollers59 and 68;. The. rollers H15- are. adapted to ride: on top of the hillof. the potato.- row and are formed with a. concave peripheral surfaceso. that the: bill will be rounded". These rollers provide.- that the.hole formed in the ground by pulling. the vines will befi-lled 'and anyclods-ofdirt will also' be' smoothly rolled.

Each. roller i has: associated therewith scraper blade |86- whi'ch is:secured to the bight of the U-shaped member 94 anct is. provided; with aconvex lower edge; on.- disposed: in substantial contact with theconcave peripherafi surface of a roller I185. this. manner when the.rollers are moving over wet: groundiamrli dirt sticks-to these rollers,the dirt will be scraped from the rollers so that the dirt will notaccumulate on these rollers.

The roller frame 93 is limited in its downward movement but is permittedfree upward movement by means of a pair of depending rods I01 which aresecured to laterally projecting lugs I08 carried by the arms 95. Therods IIlI loosely cured by fastening means H3 to the longitudinal framemembers I6.

Referring now to Figures 12 to 14 inclusive, there is disclosed aInbdified form of this invention. This modification relates to theoperating means for raising and lowering the frame. In certain instancesthe tractor used to pull the machine over the ground is not providedwith a hydraulic system, or in certain instances this system is not ofsufficient power to provide the necessary pressure for raising andlowering the frame of the machine. Where sufiicient hydraulic pressureis not available, a hydraulic pump I I4 is provided which is mountedbetween a pair of vertically disposed guide bars H5 secured to the framel5a. The pump H4 includes a shaft H5 on which a sprocket H1 is secured,

and a chain 5 I8 is trained about the sprocket I ll.

The clutch embodying the clutch elements I2ll and I2I is here shown as adental or toothed clutch and conventional operating means will beprovided for shifting the clutch element I2I into and. out of engagementwith the clutch element I20. which bears against one face of thevertical guide bars H5 and angle members I23 are fixed to the plate I22and engage the opposite sides of the guide bars H5. Vertically disposedbars I24 are fixed to the frame l5a and the bars I24 are provided withelongated slots I25 through which securing boltsIZB are extended. Thepump H4 is provided with a pair of outlets I2'l which are adapted to beconnected to the hydraulic members 25a, similar to the hydraulic members25.

In the use and operation of this machine, the machine is connected bythe drawbars to a tractor, and Where the tractor includes a hydraulicpump this pump is connected by the tubular member Eilto the hydraulicmembers 25. The height of the frame and the pulling rollers relative tothe rows of potatoes is initially adjusted so that the rollers 59 and 60will be disposed slightly above the tops of the rows. The machine I in amanner to pull the vines upwardly, the vines will enter the spacebetween the forward ends of the rollers 59 and 60 and will be grasped bythe ribs of these rollers and quickly jerked upwardly. As the vines moveupwardly from the rollers 59 Thepump He is mounted on a plate I22 and6|), the vines will be cut into relativelysmall pieces by the rapidlyrotating cutters 39. The cut vine will be blown out laterally of themachine by the draft of air created by the cutters 39. With a machine ofthis kind the vines. will be jerked out of the ground without disturbingthe potatoes which at this time are substantially full grown. Byproviding for cutting of the vines as they are being pulled, these vineswill be used as fertilizer after the potatoes have been dug by afollowing potato digger. In practice the potatoes are left in the groundwithout the vines for a period of from a week to ten days so as to ripenthe potatoes, afterwhich they are dug and may be immediately sacked.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A vine puller and cutter for connection with a tractor and the powertake-off of the tractor, comprising a mobile frame having a front andrear, a pair of pulling rollers disposed in side by side relation belowsaid frame, means connected with said frame and rollers rotatablysupporting said rollers with the axes thereof disposed lengthwise ofsaid frame, an elongated rotatable cutter carried by said frame aboveand closely adjacent said rollers, said cutter including longitudinallydisposed elongated blades, said blades extending radially of the axis ofrotation of the cutter for cutting the'vines pulled by said rollers andforcreating a lateral draft of air to thereby blow the cut vineslaterally of the frame, and means carried by said frame for connectionwith the power take-off for rotating said rollers and cutter.

2. A vine puller and cutter comprising a mobile frame having a front andrear, a pair of pulling rollers disposed in side by side relation belowsaid frame and disposed lengthwise thereof, the axes of said rollersbeing disposed in the same horizontal plane, depending supportingmembers connected between said frame and rollers rotatably supportingthe latter longitudinally of said frame, a cutter rotatably carried bysaid frame and disposed above and lengthwise of said rollers in aposition closely adjacent said rollers to cut the vines rising betweensaid rollers, said cutter including longitudinally disposed elongatedblades, said blades extending radially of the axis of rotation of thecutter, and means carried by said frame for rotating said cutter androllers.

3. A vine puller and cutter for connection with a tractorand the powertake-off of the tractor, comprising a mobile frame having a front andrear, a draft bar carried by the front of said frame for connection withthe tractor, a pair ofpuller rollers disposed in side by side relationrotatably carried by and disposed below said frame with the axes thereofdisposed lengthwise of said frame, a rotatable cutter carried by saidframe above and closely adjacent said rollers and substantially paralleltherewith, saidcutter including longitudinally disposed elongatedblades, said blades extending radially of the axis of rotation of thecutter, a drive shaft rotatably. carried by said frame adapted forconnection with the power take-off of the tractor, means connected withsaid drive shaft, said rollers and said cutter for rotating said rollersand cutter, a concave ground smoothing roller, and means carried by andprojecting rearwardly of said frame connecting said smoothing rollerwith said frame and disposing area-102sthe smoothing roller below. thelevel of said rollers and transversely of thepath. of the latter forsmoothing the ground disturbed by the pulled Vll'lBS;

4.. A vine puller and cutter for connection with a tractor. and thepower take-off of: the tractor, comprising, a mobile frame having afront. and rear, a pair of pulling rollers disposed in side by siderelation below saidiframe, means connected with said frame and rollersrotatably supporting said rollers with the axes thereof disposedlengthwise of said frame,,anelongated rotatable cutter carried by saidframe above and closely adjacent said rollers, means carried by thefront and rear of the frame verticallyadjusting-said cutter relative,tosaid rollers, said cutter including longitudinally disposed elongatedblades, said blades extending radially of, the axis of, rotation of thecutter for cutting the vines pulled by said rollers and for creating alateral draft of air'to thereby 5. A vine puller and cutter comprising amobile frame having a front and rear, a pair of pulling rollers disposedin side by side relation below said frame and disposed lengthwisethereof, the axes of said rollers being disposed in the same horizontalplane, depending supporting members connected between said frame androllers rotatably supporting the latter longitudinally of said frame, acutter rotatably carried by said frame and disposed above and lengthwiseof said rollers in a position closely adjacent said rollers to cut thevines rising between said rollers, said cutter including longitudinallydisposed elongated blades, said blades extending radially of the axis ofrotation of the cutter, means carried by the front and rear of theframe, vertically adjusting said cutter relative to said rollers, andmeans carried by'said frame for rotatingisaid cutter androllers.

6. A vine puller and cutter for connection with a tractor and the powertake-01f: of the tractor, comprising a mobile frame having a front andrear, a: draft barv carried. by the front of said frame for connectionwith the tractor, apair of puller rollers disposed in side by siderelation rotatably carried by and disposed below said frame with theaxes thereof disposed lengthwise of said frame, a rotatable cuttercarried by said frame above and closely adjacent said rollers andsubstantially parallel therewith, said. cutter including longitudinallydisposed elongated blades, said blades extending radially of the axis ofrotation of the cutter, means carried by the front. and rear of theframe vertically adjusting said cutter relative tosaid. rollers, a driveshaft rotatably carried by said frame adapted for connection with thepower take-off of the tractor, means connected with said driv shaft,said rollers and said cutter for rotating said rollers and cutter, aconcave ground smoothing roller, and means carried by and projectingrearwardly of said frame connectingsaid-smoothing. roller withsaid-frame and disposing the smoothing roller below the level of saidrollers. and transversely of the path of the latter forsmoothingythegrounddisturbed by the pulled vines.

7. A vine puller and cutter comprising a frame having a front and rearand adapted for attachment to a tractor, a pair of wheel carrying armsrockably secured to said frame adjacent the front thereof and extendingdownwardly and rearwardly, a traction wheelrotatably carried by the rearportion of each arm, means connected betweensaid frame and arms forrocking said arms to. thereby raise or lower said frame, a pair ofdepending bars fixedly secured to the front and rear of said frame, aroller journalled between said bars, a. second pair of depending barsswingably secured at their upper ends to the front and rear of saidframe, a second roller journalled between said second pair of bars andcooperating with said first roller to pull vines vertically, meanscarried by said frame adjusting said second pair of bars relative tosaid first pair of bars, a rotatable cutter above and longitudinally ofsaid rollers, said cutter including longitudinal blades disposed radialto the axis of rotation of the cutter, a pairof bearing supportingplates for said cutter, means carried by said frame adjusting saidplates relative to said frame to dispose said cutter in adjustedposition relative to said rollers, and

. meansforrotating said cutter and rollers.

'8. A- vine puller and cutter comprising a frame havinga front and rearand adapted for attachmentto a tractor, a pair of wheel carrying armsrockably secured to said frame adjacent the front thereof and extendingdownwardly and rearwardly, 'a traction wheel rotatably carried by therear portion of each arm, hydraulic arm adjusting means, connectedbetween said frame and arms for rocking said arms to thereby raise orlower said'frame, a pair of depending bars fixedly secured to the frontandrear of said frame, a roller journalled between said bars, a secondpair of depending bars swingably secured at their upper ends, to thefront and rear of said frame, a second, roller journalled between saidsecond pair of bars REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,110,785 Hubert Sept. 15, 19141,205,721 Elkins NOV. 21, 1916 1,269,111 Oliver June 11, 1918 1,358,302Ellis Nov. 9, 1920 1,379,571 Jones May 24, 1921 1,507,656 Bartosz Sept.9, 1924 2,066,864 Tucker Jan. 5, 1937

